Judgement

Chapter One- Nicole

Nicole Davis entered the arena. Thousands of angry voices yelled and spitted at her. She walked with her head high, trying to keep what little dignity that was still hers. The guards had stripped her of her clothes. And not in a respectful way. They had taunted her, knowing she was doomed for certain death. Nicole had almost lost control when they started violating her in despicable ways. But she knew what the Director had taught her.

"Keep your chin high when they mock you Nikki. Your a small one, so you'll have to use strategy to win."

She would do just that. And even though she loathed the guards touch, she tolerated it. Knowing she would get revenge.

All of the judgemental crowd surrounded her. Nicole could not escape there looks, for they were everywhere. The men stared at her hungrily, seeing all of her. Even her soul it seemed like. Nicole stood a little over five feet. Her brown hair did whatever it pleased, but still managed to look beautiful in it's own way. She was extremely slender, but well muscled. Her figure was the reason for the staring and touching.

She had been accused of a crime she did not commit. And she had faith that she would come out of this predicament alive for that very reason.

Yesterday morning had started just as normal as any other. Nicole woke up right to the rooster crowing and the sun just starting to peak over the hills. Putting on worn down blue jeans and a sweater, to fight against the cold, she headed out to the barn. Whistling a pure tone, all of the animals within the property line came to her. She smiled as the stray dog she named Hank ran up to her. She bent her knees slightly as to take the large, brown Labradors weight as he jumped and put his paws on her shoulder.

A cow and a few nickering horses came ready for feed. And birds of various breeds rested on the fence line observing her. She smiled at the group of animals and headed to the barn. Hank stayed behind and Nicole smiled. She had trained him well. Throwing a bone for his reward lead to a thunderous cascade of tail thumping.

Turning, the cow and horses followed her in the barn. Nicole grabbed a three-legged stool and sat on it. The black and white cow came presumptuously in front of her, without her cuing or any trickery of the sort. She started squeezing the swollen tits and pulled a metal bucket under the cow just in time to catch the milk.

A breath on her kneck caused her to smile, knowing it was her horse Jammer. He was tall, standing just barely over 16 hands, and his yellow coat gleamed like the suns brilliant rays.

She got up. "Alright, alright. I'll go and get you some hay." she said to the horses.

Jammer nickered and followed closely behind her. Bumping the middle of her back with his nose as he walked close to her. Bringing her hand behind, Nicole grabbed the bottom of his jaw, the whiskers tickling her palm, and led his head next to her. Drapping her arm around his neck, he slowly lowered till the top of his poll was chest level.

Nicole smiled and leaned on Jammer. He was her only true friend, besides Hank. And she loved him with all of his heart. Spending most of her time out here with all of the animals, because of living alone. Her father and mother had abandoned her as a baby at an orphanage. And as soon as she was eighteen, she left and bought her own place.

Because of all of her time out with the animals, she had grown extremely attuned to them. So, when Jammer tensed and raised his head high, causing her arm to drop. She knew something was wrong. Nicole walked outside to be confronted with a crowd of people coming down the long dirt road to her. Policemen lead, but many citizens followed.

Her heart beated wildly in her chest. But her main concerns were for her animals. She opened up all the gates. And willed them to go. The birds left first. Followed by the cow walking leisurley and then the horses galloping off, sensing her fear. She panted, wondering how she would get away from a group of people with only open land around her.

The sound of prancing hooves and a whine drew her attention, not all of her companions had left. Jammer stood head high and tail out, while Hank sat calm next to him, hackles bristled, waiting for her command. Tears filled her eyes as she realized she could escape, and how loyally her two best friends were. She leaped up on Jammer, a large feat giving her head didn't even reach his back.

Leaning forward, she whispered, "Go".

Not needing any more encouragement, he leaped forward, and set after his herd with fear fueled adrenaline. A loud bang resembled though the air that cause Jammer to jump. By doing so, he lost his footing and tripped. Sending Nicole flying over his head. She landed in an ungraceful heap on the ground in front of Jammer.

He laid there panting from his sprint. His eyes showed white with fear. She ran to him making sure he was fine after the trip, but noticed red paint dominating his golden coloring. With a trembling hand, Nicole touched it. And drew it back almost immediately, discovering it was blood. She finally saw where the bastards had shot him. Perfectly in the middle of the front of his chest. From years of laying on top of Jammer, she knew they had punctured a lung.

Hank's wet nose licked away tears she hadn't known had fallen. She looke at him and with all emotion that she could screamed, " GO!!"

Hank looked at her longingly and licked her once more on the cheek, then raced away. Nicole turned her attention back to Jammer, confident that Hank would find safety, and seeking solace in his last kiss goodbye. She ripped off her sweater and pressed it gently against Jammer's wound. She leaned against him and sang her favorite song to him, Make You Feel My Love by Adele. One she felt he loved too. "Turn down the lights/ Turn down the bed/ Turn down these voices/ Inside my head."

A sob escaped, ruining Nicole's pure voice. Jammer nickered silently, asking for her to continue and not grieve for his death. She started, but at the chorus: " 'Cause I can't make you love me/ If you don't/ You can't make your heart feel/ Something that it won't/ Here in the dark/ In these final hours/ I will lay down my heart."

She leaned against Jammer's stuttering chest. And moved to his face after the unevenness of his breathe. She crouched her body over his face and leaned her forehead against his own. Tears turned into sobs as she realized he was dying.

"Please," she begged. "Don't leave me." This was followed by more tears. Rough arms wrapped around her waist and wrenched her from her dying friend. Nicole never broke eye contact with Jammer, as the crowd reached her.

Filled with the wrath only a broken heart could produce she realed all of her fury on the surrounding people. Kicking the body holding her in the knee, she heard a satisfying crack as it broke. He screamed in pain and fell.

" You BASTARDS! MURDERERS!!" She screamed over and over again. More arms grabbed her and the prick of a needle entered her neck. She fell away into darkness, hearing a whinny so full of love before the dark consumed her.